The list of common mistakes in introductory programming course assignments is an extract of the files linked from <URL:http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~jamie/C/Mistakes/mistakes.html>. That document includes specific notes for C and Pascal, as well as some links to advice for debugging.
When I taught introductory programming classes I distributed the list
of codes to students so they would know in advance of mistakes they
might make, and also to help the graders.
I like to think that students were less likely to make these mistakes
because they were more aware, and had a handy checklist for
self-evaluation.
The graders' lives were certainly easier. Instead of writing use
meaningful var names
or (the more
cryptic) meaning?
on printouts they could simply write a 1 in a
circle and attach the grading sheet.
Please tell me if you find these material useful, or if you have suggestions for other materials I should host here.
The Common Mistakes & Marking Codes
were shown to me by
someone (I don't remember who anymore)
when I was a teaching assistant at UWO. I made
some changes to them over time but the essential idea was not mine.
Created on 27 January 2005 by J. Blustein.
Last updated on 27 January 2005 by J. Blustein.